NBR transfers 49 officials in major shake-up

Staff reporter :

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has transferred 49 senior officials in a sweeping reshuffle, one of the largest administrative shake-ups within the tax authority in recent years.

According to NBR sources, the transfer involves 25 additional commissioners and 24 joint commissioners. The orders were issued on Thursday (31 July) through two separate notifications signed by Mohammad Abul Mansur, Second Secretary of the Customs and VAT Administration-1 Branch.

While the NBR has described the move as part of a routine administrative process, the scale of the reshuffle has attracted considerable attention,
particularly given the current climate within the organisation.

Several of the transferred officials were reportedly involved in recent protests over proposed structural changes at the NBR, including the potential dissolution of the agency and calls for the removal of the current chairman. Some of these individuals were affiliated with the NBR Reform Unity Council, which has been vocal about internal reform issues.

Among the additional commissioners transferred are Mirza Shahiduzzaman, Pramila Sarkar, Shamima Akhter, Md. Khairul Kabir Mia, Dr. Mohammad Tajul Islam, and Dr. Md. Neyamul Islam. They have been reassigned to various divisions and departments under the NBR.

The reshuffle also affects 24 joint commissioners, including Mohammad Salauddin Ripon, Shahinur Kabir Pavel, Sarmin Akhter Majumder, Hasnain Mahmud, and Jahangir Alam, who were previously posted at NBR offices across the country, including Dhaka.

In addition to the mass transfers, sources indicate that several officials associated with the internal reform movement have been dismissed from their positions. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) is currently investigating 16 NBR officials in connection with allegations of misconduct and corruption.

The developments come amid growing unrest within the NBR as debates over organisational reforms and leadership continue to intensify.